Several weeks ago the passing of Dr. Henry Morgentaler was noted in the media. While part of the nation was saddened by the passing of this man, others were jubilant.
Now, I cannot say I sided with either. I have always been sort of middle of the road on the abortion debate. It`s far too complicated, and I am thankful I have never been faced with such a decision. So, I have left that debate to others, and only observed from the sidelines. But, I must say Dr. Morgentaler, held by society as hero or a murderer, had a huge impact in Canadian history.
When I heard of Morgentaler`s passing it reminded me another whose beliefs and ideas would also make an impact around the world.
Jack Kevorkian, or ``Dr. Death`` as he was dubbed by his peers, brought to focus the debate of euthanasia.
Kevorkian was fascinated by death from early on in his career. Throughout his early years he presented many unorthadox ideas and controversial views which separated him from many of his colleagues. His radical ideas were met with fear by many and eventually his was career doomed.
His critics were as impassioned as his supporters.
Kevorkian argued for the right of the terminally ill to choose how they die. Motivated by the attention of lawmakers and the news media, he became involved in the growing national debate on dying with dignity, and in 1987 he visited the Netherlands, where he studied techniques that allowed Dutch physicians to assist in the suicides of terminally ill patients without interference from the authorities.
A year later, he returned to Michigan and began advertising in Detroit-area newspapers for a new medical practice in what he called "bioethics and obiatry," which would offer patients and their families "death counseling." He made reporters aware of his intentions, explaining that he did not charge for his services and bore all the expenses of euthanasia himself. He showed journalists the simple metal frame from which he suspended vials of drugs - thiopental, a sedative, and potassium chloride, which paralyzed the heart - that allowed patients to end their own lives.
On June 4, 1990, Janet Adkins, an Oregon teacher who suffered from Alzheimer's disease, was the first patient to put her trust in Kevorkian. Her life ended on the bed inside Dr. Kevorkian's rusting 1968 Volkswagen van. He called the police and was briefly detained. In an interview later that day he said, "My ultimate aim is to make euthanasia a positive experience, I'm trying to knock the medical profession into accepting its responsibilities, and those responsibilities include assisting their patients with death."
Kevorkian professed to assisting in some 130 suicides in the following eight years. He was charged several times before being convicted in 1999. He spent eight years in prison following his conviction for second-degree murder in the death of the last of his 130 patients whose lives he had helped end. Sentenced to 25 years, Dr. Kevorkian was released from prison after eight years when he promised not to conduct another assisted suicide. He died in hospital in 2011 at the age of 83.
Hero or murderer? I suppose it depends on which side of the debate you stand.
A couple of years ago our cat became sick and it was soon obvious that he would not recover. He had been part of our family for 16 years. The decision was made to have him euthanised and end his suffering. The veterinarian came to our home and stayed with us as we said goodbye, and we held him close as he drew his last breath. I could not help but think what a wonderful way to end the suffering. Unfortunately I cannot reconcile why we are able to give this last kindness to our animals, but as humans we are often forced to endure horrible pain and deterioration of life before coming to a peaceful end.
In April of this year Susan Griffiths of Winnipeg travelled to Switzerland to end her life with the help of the non-profit organization Dignitas, far from the reaches of Canadian authority. Griffiths, 72, suffered from Multiple System Atrophy, a rare disease that took away her ability to perform the most basic bodily functions. There is no cure. Griffiths' family and a friend travelled with her and were able to be there during her final days. They were by her side as she ended her life in peace and dignity.
Susan Griffiths made a rational decision about how and when her suffering would end, and as she ended her life she asked parliamentarians to open the debate on assisted suicide to allow others to end their suffering as she did hers.
